PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University field hockey team (0-1) opened the 2026 season with a 5-1 loss to the William Smith Herons (1-0) on Tuesday night at Growney Stadium.
How It Happened
William Smith opened the scoring in the final minute of the first quarter, as Eliza Freeland snuck a shot past Fisher junior goalkeeper Morgan Parrinello on an assist from Sarah King. The Cardinals answered in the early stages of the second frame, evening the score when Mary Kate McPhee converted on a penalty stroke just more than three minutes into the quarter.
The score stayed tied for the remainder of the first half, but the Herons pulled away from the Cardinals with three goals in the third quarter. Mia Batchelder broke the tie at the 31:34 mark, and Abigail Mantione and Mia Bolster added to William Smith's lead later on in the quarter.
Leah Griffith accounted for William Smith's fifth and final goal later in the fourth quarter.
Up Next
The Cardinals face St. Lawrence at 3:30 p.m. on Friday in Oneonta, New York.
